Zidane takes Golden Ball, Cannavaro second

[maryfield48]

From FIFA's World Cup website, press release

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In one of the tightest votes in history, the inimitable French playmaker Zinedine Zidane won the adidas Golden Ball at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™. Although his team ultimately failed in their bid to lift the Trophy, Les Bleus No. 10 was voted the best player to grace the stage at Germany 2006. Behind ‘Zizou’ came Italy’s defensive rock Fabio Cannavaro, with the Juventus defender’s Azzurri team-mate Andrea Pirlo completing the podium.

After a less than impressive showing in the group phase, Zidane finally got into gear against Spain in the Round of 16, producing a virtually flawless performance to steer his side to a famous win and a place in the last eight.

If there is such a thing as footballing perfection, the midfield maestro surely attained it in the quarter-final showdown with Brazil. His superb passes, magical feints and all-round inspiration took France into the last four, where a solid performance and a clinical penalty helped Les Bleus dispose of Portugal.

In the Final against Italy, he opened the scoring with an exquisite, not to mention audacious, spot-kick. Despite his tireless prompting, however, Zidane was unable to pick up the second FIFA World Cup™ winners medal of a glittering career and was sent from the field for butting Marco Materazzi in the chest.

Cannavaro nets the adidas Silver Ball
The honour of lifting the coveted FIFA World Cup Trophy fell instead to Fabio Cannavaro. The Italy centre-half was in inspired form throughout the tournament and was the cornerstone of a superbly drilled back-line that conceded only two goals in the entire tournament.

Fearsome in the tackle and quick to fill any gap, Cannavaro brought his experience and astuteness to bear as Italy marched to the title.

The Italian captain also showed how to lead from the front. Never shy of bringing his team-mates into line with a sharp word or two, he fought sportingly for every ball and the statistics show that he was guilty of very few fouls.

Pirlo bags the adidas Bronze Ball
The ultra-dependable Andrea Pirlo was voted the third-best player of the tournament, having proved himself to be one the most complete players in the world. Part-playmaker, part-holding midfielder – dual roles he performs to perfection – he enjoyed a superb FIFA World Cup and capped it all off by picking up the Budweiser Man of the Match Award for another consummate display in the Final.

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[New001]

If it weren't for the headbutt, I wouldn't mind this for partly sentimental reasons. He played well as the tournament progressed, but not so well in the group stage. After he got sent off though, and especially with France losing, him winning seems crazy to me.

[Kneel B4 Zod]

my POV is that Zidane played 1 magnificent game (Brazil) and 1 great game (Spain) and the rest was good, while Cannavaro anchored a great Italy defense the entire tournament

wrt the headbutt, meh. he certainly hurt his teams chance to win the final, but it's not like he "blew the game" or anything like that.

it WAS a complelty idiotic move that will forever tarnish his reputation, but re: this one game, it wasn't a gigantic factor into the French loss.

his team now had a smaller chance to win in extra time, and a smaller chance in PK's as well. wildly guessing, I'd say France went from 45/55 (some small chance of winning in extra time, underdog in PK's) to win to maybe 40/60 to win the game (no Zidane in extra time, no Zidane taking PK's).

either way they are underdogs in PK's, w/ a far worse goalie and no Henry or Ribery.

[villafan]

Cannavaro actually made it entertaining to watch defending. He was great and was clearly the best player this WC.

[maryfield48]

[ QUOTE ]
Cannavaro actually made it entertaining to watch defending. He was great and was clearly the best player this WC.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. It's amazing how few fouls he gives up. That's the real sign of his quality for me.

If the award were for MVP, it might be arguable that Zidane's value to France > Cannavaro's to Italy - without Cannavaro Italy still can get to the final, but without Zidane, no way France gets that far.

[The DaveR]

[ QUOTE ]
my POV is that Zidane played 1 magnificent game (Brazil) and 1 great game (Spain) and the rest was good, while Cannavaro anchored a great Italy defense the entire tournament

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Totally agree.

[mlagoo]

FWIW

"BBC sports news correspondent Gordon Farquhar was in Berlin to see the game and the vote.

"The vast majority of those votes were cast by journalists before the final was over and that I'm sure is why Zidane has come out top," Farquhar told BBC Radio Five Live. "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...06/5154248.stm

[THEOSU]

all,

the worst travesty of these awards is that Portugal won "Most Entertaining."

[challenger84]

Maybe people are entertained by seeing players cry?